the life and writerly times of Reesa Brown

Archive for October 2nd, 2011

Whew, that week went by fast. Only managed one post this week but that’s better than none, and here are your weekend links! a bit more themed this week than some weeks, but no worries, more randomness will return next week.

More on the google class action author suit from Elizabeth Moon. You may not like some of her opinions but this sounds pretty clear-cut — authors whose books are still in copyright are having their works scanned and made available without permission. You can find articles on this all over the internet right now, so do your research and protect yourselves, fellow writers; non-writers, spare a minute or two to think about those writers you love to read. Contrary to popular belief, authors like King or Meyer, or shows like Castle, most writers depend on the gradual accumulation of those few cents-at-a-time build-up to make their living, so think about helping them out by either not downloading google-pirated works or by contributing through money or help to the suit against such behavior.

I was worried about this with my folks during this summer. It was wonderful to have them close by during my health struggles, and my mom helping out with baby Wednesday for so long, but if they’d had bosses like these they’d have endangered their jobs. This needs to change, for everyone in this country.

And this, from Jay Lake, is one of the better posts he’s made about how to talk to a person with cancer. Really. And I’ve used the “hit by a bus” analogy myself, to make people around me feel better about talking about it with me. But he’s right, it isn’t like that. Not at all. I’ve mentioned, and will likely blog again in the future, about how “othering” cancer is, in the sense that it makes you Other. Not “one of us”. And you don’t get to cross that line back.

There’s a branch in Dallas for FORCE, for anyone interested…I took a survey or two, not sure if we’re making the conference this year thanks to the timing of all the health and surgery stuff but Mom and I are part of this.

And locally, the Breast Cancer Resource Center does some amazing work to help out breast cancer patients. If you can’t throw them some money, how about some time? or sewing? They make these awesome shirts to hold post surgery drains or ice packs (pockets on the inside) that I’ve found super useful both times I’ve needed them.

As bad as my cancer was, it could have been far worse, and I’m so very thankful that it wasn’t and isn’t. These gentlemen participated ina fascinating experimental trial that resulted in complete remissions for two out of the three who’ve tried it so far (read on for more info…)